Shank piece



Aug.- 31 1926. 1,597,886

w. B. HAWTHORNE SHANK' PIECE Filed Feb. 25, 1923 17202702504 MAI/W53 VV/LL/A/V! B. HAwTHo/eA/E In In earns 'WILLIAM B. HAVJTHORNE, OF CHICAGO,

CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS, AESIGNUR T0 PAUL RADER, OF

ILLENOES. I

SHANE PIECE;

Application filed February My invention has reference to shank pieces for footwear, such as boots, shoes, and the like, and has more particular reference to a structure that is adapted to be inserted or built in between the inner and outer soles of the footwear so as to materially assist in maintaining the front and rear portions of the shoes in their desired relative positions against torsional strains, and to stiffen and support the portion of the shoe or boot adjacent and below the arch of the wearers foot.

Among the objects of my invention are the provision of a shank piece for different vogues or shapes of shoes; another object is to provide a shank piece that may be made of light material, and which, on ac count of its particular shape and conformation, will maintain the shoe against distor tion during service, and support the wearers foot in a rigid manner at the arch. It is also an object of my invention to provide a shank piece that is simple in construction, is easily and readily insertable in the shoe, both during the making of the shoe, and after the shoe has gone into service; which is economical to manufacture so that it will not materially add to the expense of manufacturing footwear, and may be sold to the user at a very moderate price. All of the foregoing objects I prefer to accomplish in substantially the manner hereinafter described, and as more particularly pointed out in the claim.

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings that form a part of this specification, in which- Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a shoe showing my improved shank piece incorporated therein.

Fig. 2 is a top plan of the shank piece removed from the shoe.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the shank piece taken on line 33, Fig. 1,

As seen in Fig. 1, the shank piece A is inserted between the insole B and the outs-ole C of a shoe or boot, or similar article,

and its anterior portion D terminates approximately about the forward weight bearing portion or ballof the shoe, while its posterior portion E terminates back of the forward edge of the heel. The shank piece preferably comprises a piece of sheet metal of a suitable gauge that is shaped in any suitable manner upon itsv exterior outline,

23, 1923. Serial No. 620,624.

and is provided longitudinally with a rib F. This rib may be formed by pressing together the central portion of the metal plate so that the rib or corrugation will extend from one of the surfaces of the shank piece. The rib F terminates and merges into the plate before reaching the anterior and posterior ends of the latter so that said end portions are flat and afford convenient facilities for securing the shank piece in the footwear, and a smooth surface is presented inside the shoe. This may be conveniently done by forming apertures G at the posterior and anterior ends of the shank through which nails may be driven in the usual manner. The portions H of the plate upon the longitudinal sides of the rib or corrugation F are preferably bent so as to converge with each other and with the rib or corrugation F. These side portions H are extended from their point of juncture with the corrugation or rib F to points or lines which are substantially in a common plane with the top or outer edge of the corrugation The anterior end D is provided with a transverse bend (Z extending parallel with the adjacent edge of the plate in which the nail holes G are made and afford convenience in mounting the shank piece.

It will be seen from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, that the three-way section formed by the rib or corrugation F and side portions H produce a structure which is of peculiar strength against torsional strains which are generally the reason for the dis tortion of the shoe in service, and that this feature not only contributes to the maintaining of an elegant appearance but also is of even more importance in maintaining the comfort of thewearer as the shoe is not permited to twist as is very common with careless walkers. When the shoe becomes twisted and distorted no further support is given to the foot and the snugness and com fort which is expected from the shoe is lost. It will also be observed that by arching the shank piece in the reverse direction and irrserting it between the inner and outer soles that a substantially flat appearance will be given to the arch portion of the shoe while the advantages of the three-way or bayonet section will not be sacrificed.

What I claim is A shank piece for foot-wear comprising.

an elongated plate bowed longitudinally in an upwardly direction between its posterior and anterior portions, said plate being 'formed of concavo-convex transverse sec' the metal of the shank upwardly a distance 10 corresponding to the depth of the concavity of the shank piece, the walls of the rib being in intimate contact with each other and the longitudinal sides of the shank piece diverging upwardly from the base of the rib.

Signed at Chicago, county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 15th day of February 1923.

WILLIAM B. HAlVTI-IORNE. 

